Justice (Counsel #2)

by Shenda Paul

By the time she huskily ordered me to turn over, I had to fight not to impale her when, after more of the same exquisite torture, she finally lowered herself on me. Our second joining had been frantic, and I nearly tore the sheets as I struggled for control. When Angelique told me to lose myself, I did just that. We came together, almost sobbing in our spent pleasure.

  We fell asleep with lips touching and wrapped in each other’s arms. I woke, spooned with Angelique and sporting an erection when my alarm went off at five-thirty. I tried to be a gentleman by not pressing against her enticing behind, choosing instead to place soft kisses along her spine before untangling myself to get up. She stirred sleepily and pushed back invitingly into me as she woke. Our subsequent lovemaking was tender and languid.

  I sit on the edge of the bed now to kiss her goodbye. Honey-brown eyes open to look up at me dreamily. "Go back to sleep," I say, kissing her pouty mouth.

  "I love you," she murmurs, almost instantly drifting back to sleep. I gather my keys and jacket and, with one last look at the woman I love in my bed, leave for my seven o'clock meeting with Jodi.

  On my way to the office, I pick up a copy of the newspaper that ran the offending article and leaf through it as soon as I’m sitting at my desk. There, on page three as we'd agreed, is the notice.

  Retraction

  An article printed in yesterday's edition of this publication misstated key facts.

  It was incorrect in its assertion that Ms. Angelique Bain had been responsible for Senator Justin Wade’s downfall, and in its inference that she and Assistant District Attorney Adam Thorne entered into a relationship before or during the senator’s trial.

  The article was also wrong in its inference that Mr. Thorne may have, in any way, shown bias or mismanaged Senator Wade’s or any of the Cordi trials.

  We apologize unreservedly to Ms. Bain, Mr. Thorne, and the office of the District Attorney for these unsubstantiated claims.

  Satisfied, I fold the paper and lay it aside just as Jodi enters.

  "Good morning," I greet her cheerfully. "Ready to go through what we can expect in court today?"

  Chapter Eight

  Court is called to order, and the case number in the matter of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts versus Joseph Alfonz Cordi is read. "The Honorable Judge Alexander West presides," the officer then announces, heralding the start of the trial, which, for me, will probably remain the most personally significant of my career.

  "Is the Commonwealth ready?" Judge West asks soon after.

  "We are, Your Honor," I reply, buttoning my jacket as I rise to greet and introduce myself to the court before starting my opening address.

  "Drug trafficking and distribution, kidnapping, extortion, sex trafficking and child enticement, the defendant, Joseph Cordi, is guilty of every one of these crimes, Your Honor, Ladies, and Gentlemen of the Jury. The extent of his criminality is evidence of the avaricious and depraved nature of the man. Not satisfied with committing one crime, the defendant decided to branch out, if you will. Along with his brothers, he forged a criminal empire to feed his lust for power and money.

  "Joseph Cordi didn't care about the lives he destroyed, or how many people might potentially die from the drugs he imported and then sold on our streets. He didn't care about the impact of his extortion on struggling business owners and their families. He didn't care about the family of the man whose kidnapping and forced drugging he sanctioned. He didn't care about the women he took advantage of, objectified and sexually exploited. He didn't care that some were barely out of their teens, nor did he care when he sold a sixteen-year old's virginity to a man old enough to be her grandfather. Joseph Cordi didn't care about anyone or anything—he truly is a heartless man, a cruel and ruthless felon.

  "During this trial, you will learn of the depths the defendant stooped to in building his evil empire. The Commonwealth will take you into the world of this criminal mastermind; we will present evidence of his extensive drug network and demonstrate the sophisticated structures he helped create to protect himself from the law.

  "You will learn how he established a brothel specifically to entice influential men in a bid to gain favor and acceptance in society. You will learn of the other brothels he introduced to ply his trade in prostitution. You will hear from the men he hired to do his dirty work and the victims of his crimes.

  "By the end of proceedings, you will realize the depth of Joseph Cordi’s wickedness. You will understand the kind of man he really is. You will come to believe, Ladies and Gentlemen, as the Commonwealth does, that he is an evil man, that he is guilty as charged, and that he deserves to pay the maximum penalty for his offenses," I conclude.

  I return to my seat, aware of Joseph’s eyes boring into me. I ignore him; I suspect there’s nothing he hates more.

  Travis Jones stands to make his opening statement. He smooths his tie and buttons his jacket before speaking.

  "Thank you, Your Honor, Ladies, and Gentlemen of the Jury. My name is Travis Jones, attorney for Mr. Cordi, and I would like, on behalf of my client and the defense team, to thank you for your time.

  "Joseph Cordi is a loving family man, a respected and successful businessman, and a committed and generous philanthropist.

  "He does not deny his family's criminal history. He admits that he was raised to believe that stealing, prostitution, and selling drugs are acceptable practices. He was taught to follow the example of his father and grandfather and schooled to do as he was told. But as an adult, freed by his father's death, he has worked assiduously to overcome his past.

  "He admits to owning a number of nightclubs but denies having knowledge of prostitution conducted at any establishment, save one, Liaison, an exclusive gentleman's club where the women were all of legal age, willing participants, and well compensated.

  "Mr. Cordi knows that prostitution is illegal—but what we have to understand, Ladies and Gentlemen, is that in his upbringing, prostitution was viewed as a normal way of life, something even respectable men indulged in discreetly. He was taught that if a man desired sex outside of marriage, it was preferable to engage in it with a prostitute who expects nothing but money in return rather than with a woman who could, potentially, challenge a wife's position and threaten the well-being of the marriage and family.

  "Mr. Cordi denies any knowledge of drug trafficking and distribution, he denies the charges of extortion and kidnapping, and he denies the charge of child enticement.

  "My client cannot be blamed for the fact that, because of the activities of his late father, criminals harbor grievances against his family. He cannot be held accountable for the fact that those same people tried to exact revenge by linking his name to the importation and sale of drugs. He cannot be held responsible for the fact that past associates chose to use their relationship with his family as a platform for their criminal activities—just as he cannot be held responsible for the fact that, without his knowledge, some of his nightclub employees engaged in acts of prostitution.

  "Mr. Cordi, Your Honor, Ladies, and Gentlemen, is a victim of a cunning and malicious blackmail plot, and he has been wrongly charged," he says before thanking the court once more and returning to his place at the defense table.

  Judge West announces a recess, and Jodi and I make a hasty exit—me to catch up on some necessary calls and her to meet Jon for a quick lunch. I call Angelique first to ask about her morning, which she informs me has been wonderful, except for her embarrassment at Mom finding her in the same clothes she’d worn the day before. I assure her that Mom’s the last person to judge and that she’s probably ecstatic about the development in our relationship.

  "We read the retraction—I can't thank you enough…" she says then, but I cut her off gently.

  "We’ve already discussed this; there’s no need for thanks, and you should also know that I intend making a statement to the press."

  "It’s the perfect opportunity while the retraction is stil
l fresh in their minds. Trust me; it will be fine," I add when she expresses concern. She concedes but her voice tells me she’s still worried.

  "Anyway, Miss Bain, I'd like to take you to dinner tonight, if you’ll allow me to, of course."

  "I'd love to, but can you spare the time?" Angelique responds, her tone lightening just as I’d hoped it would.

  "I always have time for you, and if you want to go home first, we could stop off on our way to the restaurant," I suggest.

  "I should leave when your mom does, Adam. I can't just hang around your place."

  "I love having you there."

  "Maybe next time, but after this morning, I'd feel more comfortable if I went home, " she replies, and sensing how important this is to her, I don’t protest.

  "I’ll pick you up at seven and call if I’m running late. I love you," I tell Angelique before hanging up. My next call is to a landscape gardener and my last, to New York. Satisfied with the outcome of both, I return to answering messages. I’m still busily texting when Jodi and Jon arrive.

  "What's up? I know that face," I ask as he sits down.

  "You should have been a detective," he comments dryly.

  "That's why I'm a prosecutor," I counter, matching his tone.

  "And an ass, obviously," Jodi contributes, making us both smile.

  "Your mouthy girlfriend hasn't gotten me off track, Holmes. What's up?"

  "The Texans brought in Perez."

  "Did they find the girls?"

  "Two young women, both drugged out of their minds were with him, but we haven’t confirmed their identities yet," he tells me.

  .

  .

  Back in court, I’m invited to present the Commonwealth’s case and in response, project the first of our documented evidence onscreen.

  "What you are looking at, Your Honor, Ladies, and Gentlemen, is Exhibit One, an organization chart produced by police investigators based on information gained from credible witnesses, men who worked for the Cordis and who had first-hand knowledge of their illegal activities. From it, you will learn the measures the Cordi brothers took to hide their involvement in crime. Other than a trusted few in their organization, no one, it appears, knew the real identity of their employers, except by rumor and reputation.

  "The defendant’s brother, Silvio, headed up the family’s illegal businesses as you can see from the diagram. His role can best be likened to that of chairman of a corporation, a person who deals with matters only at the highest levels. Silvio divided the Cordi’s drug empire into two regions. Joseph, the defendant, headed up one, while his brother, Enzo, led the other; they were divisional chief executive officers if you like.

  "Joseph and Enzo, in turn, split their areas into smaller territories and appointed district leaders. Those leaders appointed lieutenants to run the streets, creating yet another layer between the Cordis and their criminal activities. This multi-tiered structure protected the brothers and facilitated their objective of gaining social acceptance," I say, pausing long enough to allow jury members to make notes, should they wish.

  "And this," I continue, changing the visual, "is a document uncovered among evidence seized from the defendant’s and his brothers’ homes. Titled ‘Record of Intake’, the report lists the quantities of illegal drugs and importation dates, primarily from Mexico and Colombia. The Commonwealth has tabled five of these records as part of its documented evidence. Numbered Exhibits Two-A through E, the first dates back to nineteen ninety-nine, and the latest, March of this year," I clarify and then present the first page of each in turn before moving on to the next piece of evidence.

  "Exhibit Three-A through E shows the last pages of the documents you’ve just viewed. The page currently onscreen relates to the latest, dated March second, two thousand and fourteen and details the quantity and purity of the drugs received on that day. Most importantly, it contains the signature of Fico Moretti, a witness the court will hear from shortly.

  "This is Exhibit Four, a report that details every aspect of the Cordis’ illegal drug dealings — specifics include inventory levels, sales by drug type and geographic region, and profit and loss statements right down to street dealer level."

  "Hundreds of incriminating documents, much like these, were seized during the raids on the Cordis’ homes," I continue after giving the panel enough time to digest the rather detailed information.

  "What you’ve seen are not forgeries, Your Honor, Ladies, and Gentlemen. Forging one or two documents as part of a plot to blackmail and incriminate someone may be viewed as credible, but hundreds, spanning a period of fifteen years is highly implausible.

  "The records, as you’ve witnessed, are meticulous; major corporations would be proud of the accounting practices the Cordis adopted. You would be justified in wondering why anyone would go to the lengths the Cordi brothers did to distance themselves from their crimes only to then document every aspect of their illegal dealings. Why, you have probably asked yourself, would they risk discovery?

  "Simply put, Your Honor, Ladies, and Gentlemen, the Cordi brothers were arrogant. They believed they were smarter than our law enforcement agencies. They were convinced that they had either instilled enough fear or provided enough incentive for their henchmen to remain loyal and witnesses silent.

  "The Cordis wanted to gain acceptance in our society and to befriend people of influence, so they devised a cunning plan to meet their objectives. They established an infrastructure to hide their criminal activities and donned the guise of successful businessmen. The Cordi brothers did operate legitimate businesses, yes; but those ventures were merely a facade—smokescreens to hide their real way of life, a way to launder their ill-gotten money, and gain access to people of interest.

  "So successful was their subterfuge that they were welcomed into boardrooms, politicians’ inner circles and the homes of many of our most respected families. But, as is almost always the case with those who display excessive hubris, it proved, ultimately, to be their undoing," I conclude.

  Having established the groundwork, I call our first witness to the stand. Fico Moretti is sworn in and after requesting that he state his full name, I ask my first question.

  "Mr. Moretti, you are currently serving prison terms for drug trafficking, distribution, extortion, and kidnapping, are you not?"

  "Yeah," he replies.

  "Please outline the conditions under which you are testifying today."

  "No deal was made," he responds curtly.

  "You were not offered a deal to appear as a prosecution witness?" I clarify.

  "You should know, you’re the one who refused."

  "Mr. Moretti, were you offered a deal to testify or not?"

  "No," he admits.

  "Do you know the defendant?"

  "I do."

  "How do you know him?"

  "He was my boss."

  "Joseph Cordi was your boss?"

  "Yeah."

  "How long were you in his employ?"

  "Since two-thousand eight."

  "Tell the court how you came to be employed by him."

  "I was dumb enough to sell on Victor's turf, so he messed me up and dragged me off to see the boss."

  "And we're still talking about the defendant, Joseph Cordi?"

  "I only know one Mr. Cordi."

  "For the record, are you referring to the defendant, Joseph Cordi?"

  "Yeah."

  "Tell the court how you met the defendant?"

  "Like I said, Victor took me to him, and the boss accused me of stealing from him. I told him I didn’t, but he said to shut up and gave me two choices. ‘You can end up as dog food or do the smart thing and work for me.’ I'm a smart guy, and I wanted to live, ya know."

  "Who said that to you?"

  "Mr. Cordi."

  "Who is this Victor you mentioned?"

  "Victor Perez, a real scary motherf…"
>
  "Mr. Moretti, you are in a court of law," Judge West warns, and Fico smirks unapologetically.

  "Who is Victor Perez?" I repeat.

  "He used to be a district leader; now he's the boss' enforcer."

  "Enforcer?"

  "Strong-arm man, go-to guy," he replies, smirking again.

  "So, you accepted Mr. Cordi’s job offer. What did your job entail?"

  "First, I just dealt — selling, pushing onto new users, stuff like that."

  "You said first, what did you mean by that?"

  "After a while, Victor sends word the boss wants to see me, and the boss tells me he's impressed with my work. I was just glad he didn’t think I screwed up, ya know…" He shrugs. "Then he says he's got bigger things planned for Victor, and I'm the new district leader."

  "What exactly does a district leader do?"

  "Make money, run the dealers, supply their stash, make sure no one's ripping us off. Keep others from moving onto my turf, rough people up, stuff like that."

  "What do you mean by rough people up?"

  "Sometimes a dealer fu…screws up," he throws Judge West an impudent grin before continuing. "Or a user can't pay, or some smartass talks to the cops; they need to be taken care of."

  "Do you know a man called Lorcan Walsh?"

  "Yeah, I know him."

  "How do you know Mr. Walsh?"

  "He’s a baker who wouldn’t pay his dues. The boss told me to convince him."

  "What do you mean by his dues?"

  "We protected businesses, and they paid us."

  "Did Mr. Walsh’s business need protection?"

  "There’s always thugs out there looking to do damage."

  "If you controlled the streets, as you claimed, why would businesses be in danger from thugs?"

  "Okay, so protection money was a good sideline, it was easy money," he admits.

  "You call the extortion of innocent people a profitable sideline? What other sidelines did you run, Mr. Moretti?"

  "We took a cut from hookers we let work our turf, and if a John got out of hand, we handled the problem for a fee. Oh, and money lending was also big," he says almost proudly.